How to Clean Gel Nail Polish Brushes

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If you love fake nails or do them professionally, you’ve probably dabbled in the world of gel nail application. Doing gel nails is an art and can be hard to master, so it’s important to take care of your tools. You can use a few simple cleaning solutions to keep your gel nail brushes hygienic and free of gel so they are ready any time you want to switch up your own nails or work on a client.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Doing a Deep Clean

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  1. Dab a small amount of alcohol onto a cotton pad and wait about 30 seconds for it to soak in. Only use a small amount so that your cotton pad isn’t dripping wet. [1]
    • You can find isopropyl alcohol at most grocery and home goods stores.
    • If you don’t have a cotton pad, you can also use a nail wrap.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Gel Nail Polish Brushes
    Gently swipe the pad from the end of the handle to just above the bristles. Don’t use the cotton pad on the bristles of your brush just yet. [2]
    • Wiping down the handle will get rid of any sticky residue that could get on your hands the next time you use your brush.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Gel Nail Polish Brushes
    Lay your cotton pad soaked in alcohol flat on a table or countertop, then gently swipe the bristles of your brush over it. Go back and forth about 10 times until the majority of the gel is gone. [3]
    • Be gentle as you clean your bristles so you don’t damage your brush.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Gel Nail Polish Brushes
    Dab a small amount of clear gel onto a flat surface and pick it up with your brush by swiping it back and forth over the gel. The colored gel that is stuck in the bristles will start to pull out toward the surface. [4]
    • Don’t let the clear gel dry on your brush, or you will just have more to clean up later.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Gel Nail Polish Brushes
    With your cotton pad sitting on a flat surface, gently swipe the bristles back and forth over it. Do this 9 or 10 times until there isn’t any color left on your brush and it looks clean. [5]

    Warning: Some nail technicians recommend soaking your brush in alcohol for 1 minute, but this has the potential to dry out your bristles.

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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Caring for Your Brushes

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  1. Lay down a lint-free towel and brush any leftover gel off the brush. Make sure you wipe off as much of the gel as you can to make cleaning easier. [6]

    Did You Know? Gel nail brushes are usually made out of synthetic fibers, which is why they don’t need as intense cleanings as acrylic nail brushes.

  2. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Gel Nail Polish Brushes
    Pick up a clean towel that doesn’t have any lint or hair on it and gently swipe your brush through it. Go from bristles to the end of the handle to take off any residual gel on the brush. [7]
    • Make sure your towel is super clean so that you don’t get anything stuck to the gel on your brush.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Gel Nail Polish Brushes
    Pour some alcohol onto a cotton pad and let it soak in for about 30 seconds. Gently swipe the pad onto the handle of your brush so you can use it again without getting gel on your hands. [8]
    • The bristles of your brush don’t need to be cleaned with alcohol every time you use them. Using alcohol less will make your brush last longer.
  4. Since you aren’t cleaning your gel brush off all the way, it will still have residual gel in the bristles. If it is exposed to UV light, the bristles will harden and be super hard to unstick. Make sure you keep your gel brush away from any UV lights as you work on your nails. [9]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Can I clean my gel brush with acetone?
    Kristin Pulaski
    Salon Owner & Nail Specialist
    Kristin Pulaski is a Professional Nail Artist and the Founder of Paintbucket, a self-owned and operated nail salon based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She has over five years of experience running Paintbucket and is licensed as a nail technician. Paintbucket offers nail art manicures, pedicures, and soft gel extensions along with customized packages for wedding and bridal parties. She holds a BA in Managerial Science from Manhattan College.
    Kristin Pulaski
    Salon Owner & Nail Specialist
    Expert Answer
    This is actually a really bad idea. Acetone will ruin the bristles on your brush. I know it seems counterintuitive since we use acetone to clean our nails, but you can't use it on a nail brush. You shouldn't use nail polish remover, either. Just wipe the brush down with some alcohol to clean it.
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      Tips

      • Try not to expose your gel brush to UV light when there’s gel on it, or the gel will harden and be hard to pick off.
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      Things You’ll Need

      Doing a Deep Clean

      • Cotton pad
      • Isopropyl alcohol
      • Clear gel

      Caring for Your Brushes

      • Towel
      • Isopropyl alcohol
      • Cotton pad


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      References

      1. ↑ Kristin Pulaski. Salon Owner & Nail Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.
      2. ↑ Kristin Pulaski. Salon Owner & Nail Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.
      3. ↑ Kristin Pulaski. Salon Owner & Nail Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CfI9CkBa9U&feature=youtu.be&t=97
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CfI9CkBa9U&feature=youtu.be&t=121
      6. ↑ https://www.salonsdirect.com/blog/how-do-you-clean-your-acrylic-gel-nail-brushes/
      7. ↑ https://www.salonsdirect.com/blog/how-do-you-clean-your-acrylic-gel-nail-brushes/
      8. ↑ Kristin Pulaski. Salon Owner & Nail Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.
      9. ↑ https://www.salonsdirect.com/blog/how-do-you-clean-your-acrylic-gel-nail-brushes/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To clean your gel nail polish brushes, first saturate a cotton pad with rubbing alcohol. Then, use the pad to wipe down the handle on your brush. Set the pad down and gently wipe the bristles on it to clean them. For stubborn pigments, dip the bristles in clear nail gel, then wipe the bristles on the cotton pad again. The clear nail gel will help push the pigment out of the bristles. To keep your brushes clean, always wipe off the bristles with a lint-free cloth after each use. To learn how to clean your gel nail polish brushes, keep reading!

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